Where to go in 2024

All our favorites from this year ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Matador Awards]( The 2023 Matador Network Travel Awards Hi all, As we approach the end of the calendar year, the Matador Network team reflected on our travels in 2023. Drawing from our collective experiences, we distilled some of our favorite trips into five categories for the 2023 Matador Network Travel Awards: adventure, wellness, sustainability, emerging destination, and the airline that most seamlessly facilitated our trips. [EXPLORE THE WINNERS]( Next Big Destination Award [Award winners]( 7 Must-Visit Destinations For 2024 These locations all made the short-list for our Next Big Destination Award, and were meticulously assessed and chosen based on various criteria. These aren't the ever-popular places you'll see every other person on social media visiting, but all should be on your radar when planning future travel. [WATCH NOW]( [best next destination]( Matador Network Next Big Destination Award: Saudi Arabia It’s incredible how much Saudi Arabia has done to welcome visitors since opening the country to international leisure travel in 2019. Desert accommodations blend seamlessly into the natural environment, while one of the world’s largest and most immersive winter festivals brings an unparalleled experience to locals and foreigners alike. What’s to come, led by NEOM, is nothing short of awe-inspiring: a new utopian city built in a straight line, a high-desert ski resort, and hotels built right into the mountains, to name a few of the projects in development. Keeping up with the country’s ambitious plans is a full time job, but one thing is clear: Saudi Arabia will be a global tourism leader for many decades to come. [READ MORE]( [Riaydh]( How To Get a Visa To Visit Saudi Arabia and What To Do Once You Get There In 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially opened its doors to international leisure travelers, issuing tourist visas for the first time. Today, citizens of 57 nations, including the United States, can obtain an eVisa to travel to Saudi Arabia — and the application process is simple, fast, and relatively cheap. [READ MORE]( [Hegra]( Everything To Know About Hegra, Saudi Arabia's Famous Archaeological Site Hegra, or Mada’in Saleh, is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO Heritage Site. Here, the 2,000-year-old remains of a Nabatean city awe visitors and locals alike. It's not dissimilar to the wonders you’ll see in Petra, but on a smaller and much less-crowded scale. [READ MORE]( [Neom]( Why Saudi Arabia’s City of the Future Is Designed in One Straight Line At first, the idea of building an entire city in the shape of a straight line might sound puzzling. After all, wouldn’t it take that much longer to get from one end to the other? Would the traffic going from end to end be terrible? It turns out that the straight line model is actually based on efficiency of transportation, and when done right, it can be an incredible advantage to other layouts. That’s the goal with “The Line,” Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar futuristic city that’s an ambitious feat of engineering. [READ MORE]( Sustainable Destination Award [Award winners]( 8 Sustainable Travel Destinations to Visit in 2024 These eight locations were all in serious consideration for Matador's 2023 Sustainable Destination Award. All prioritize sustainability, from natural areas to eco-conscious accommodations. Whether you’re a seasoned eco-traveler or looking to embark on your first sustainable adventure, these are the places to go in 2024. [WATCH NOW]( [Scotland]( Matador Network Sustainable Destination Award: Scotland Sustainability extends beyond the environment. It’s also about creating a travel ecosystem that works for both visitors and residents. Scotland leads the way in many aspects, from its ambitious efforts to bring back native flora and fauna as the world’s first rewilding nation, to embracing slow travel in cities and the countryside alike — especially along the first UNESCO Trail that highlights 13 designated areas and sustainable businesses. [READ MORE]( [Edinburgh]( Explore the World's First UNESCO Trail for the Ultimate Trip Through Scotland Scotland launched the world’s first UNESCO Trail in 2021 in a celebration of Scotland’s many UNESCO designations. The list of World Heritage Sites, geoparks, cities, and biospheres illustrates the diversity and beauty of Scotland's landscape and culture. A slow-travel trip along the trail is a cultural journey through key points in the region’s history — as well as a look into the lively culture of current day Scotland. [READ MORE]( [Whiskey train]( How To Take a Castle and Whisky Tasting Train Through the Scottish Highlands For all the convenience of a guided tour without the microphone-toting tour guide herding tourists onto a bus, train trips offer a variety of pre-made and customized itineraries, which can include everything from food to beverages and accommodations. [READ MORE]( Adventure Destination Award [Award winners]( 8 Adventure Travel Destinations to Explore in 2024 Naming just one top adventure travel destination for the 2023 Matador Awards was a tough task. These eight were among our favorites and received the most serious consideration. All feature breathtaking landscapes and access to adrenaline-pumping activities that will satisfy every thrill-seeker’s wanderlust. [WATCH NOW]( [Vancouver Island]( Matador Network Adventure Destination Award: Vancouver Island Canada’s Vancouver Island is one of the few places in the world where you can surf and ski in the same day. In the warmer months, forest hikes end in waterfalls and incredible vistas. The ocean and some 9,000 lakes are never far, offering opportunities for kayaking, boating, fishing, and wildlife spotting. Here, there’s no shortage of new adventures that you can find trip after trip. [READ MORE]( [Vancouver Island]( A 480-Mile Trekking Route Is Now Open on Vancouver Island The Vancouver Island Trail runs from Victoria in the southeast to Cape Scott on the island’s northwestern tip. The route brings together nearly forgotten logging and mining access roads with sections of freshly cut trail that require both solid navigational skills and a proper backpacking setup. [READ MORE]( More Travel Award Winners [on an airplane]( Matador Network Best Airline Award: United Airlines Over the past couple of years, airlines have been defined by the pandemic and their response. Travelers have come to expect flight delays and cancellations, understaffing, long lines, and general frustration. United Airlines has continuously worked to improve the flying experience both on and off the plane while being a leader in sustainability in an industry not known for its commitment to lessening its climate impact. [READ MORE]( [Calistoga]( Matador Network Wellness Destination Award: Calistoga, California For some, seeking a rounded and immersive wellness experience means getting far from urban areas. Calistoga — just 75 miles from San Francisco and surrounded by Napa and Sonoma — manages to do so without being entirely remote. It has a long history as one of the first wellness destinations in the Western United States based around the area's natural hot springs. Updated facilities at resorts old and new keep it atop travelers’ lists for natural treatments, escapes into nature, and a wine-country pace of life that will leave anyone feeling completely refreshed. 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